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Witness Comes Forward in Migrant Camp Vandalism Case

San Diego police say there's a witness who saw six people destroy migrants' belongings in a Rancho Penasquitos canyon last weekend. The witness told police he saw the vandals go from migrant camp to m

Witness Comes Forward in Migrant Camp Vandalism Case

San Diego police say there's a witness who saw six people destroy migrants' belongings in a Rancho Penasquitos canyon last weekend. The witness told police he saw the vandals go from migrant camp to migrant camp slashing worker's property. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.

San Diego Police Captain Jim Collins says a man who lives in one of the migrant camps says four men and two women sliced up workers' blankets, clothes and even their cell phone chargers.

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Collins: Some of the clothing items were brand new, even had sales tags still on them because people were getting ready to take them back to their families in Mexico.

Collins says the witness described the vandals' vehicles and their physical appearance.

Collins: He recognized one of them that he's seen active with one of the organizations out there that's anti-day laborers, anti-migrants.

Collins says police may recommend the vandalism be charged as a hate crime. Meanwhile, he says police are not providing protection for the witness. They're also not increasing patrols around the migrant camps. Amy Isackson, KPBS News.